The Jat community, which has been agitating to press their demand for a quota in central government jobs, today hinted at withdrawal of their stir by tomorrow after a government assurance to look into the issue.
After an hour-long meeting with home minister P Chidambaram and social justice minister Mukul Wasnik, a delegation of Jat leaders said that they would hold a meeting of their 'core committee' by this evening or tomorrow where the request of the Central government to suspend the agitation would be discussed.
"The home minister told us that the government needs two-three days time to discuss our demand. He also requested us to suspend our agitation. We will discuss it among ourselves in the evening or tomorrow morning and let them know," leader of the Jat delegation Yashpal Malik said.
Describing their meeting with Chidambaram and Wasnik as "positive", Malik said the Union ministers told them that another round of meeting would be held within three-four days as the demand for inclusion of Jats in the central government list of OBCs would be discussed with the ministry of law and other relevant wings of the government.
"As of now our agitation is on. But we will review it following the government assurance," he said.
The protesting Jats in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have been demanding reservation in central government jobs under OBC category.
The decision to hold talks with the agitating Jats was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Attorney general Goolam Vahanvati was also present at the meeting.
The over a week-long Jat stir has badly hit the rail movement with protesters squatting on rail tracks disrupting movement of trains in various parts of north India.
Jats have threatened to cut all essential supplies to Delhi if their demands are not met by March 17. Agitators have also threatened plan to block the supply of oil from Mathura refinery to Delhi.
